Waves on Rocks

Since I couldn't be with my family, I decided to go and spend the weekend in Maine.  I went to Acadia National Park (2 hours away).  On the way, I saw an eagle's nest on top of a utility pole.  (Thanks to Google, I learned this is common.)  Once at Acadia, I took the loop road in pursuit of waves hitting rocks.  Mission accomplished!!!

Otter Point was definitely the place to go.  Thunderhole is impressive, but it is packed with people.  Otter Point was more secluded.  I was able to sit there for almost two hours, taking in the beauty and power.

Lunch Break

I took lunch on the green between Lorimer Chapel (the first building on Colby's new campus--and a National Historic Landmark) and Miller Library (the central building on campus).  The hill in front of the chapel is a common sledding site in the winter.

Inside the library is a corridor called "The Street"--a major traffic way for students.  This lion statue is a tribute to Colby students who were killed in the Civil War.  It is apparently good luck to rub the lion's nose before finals.

A Trek to the Coast

After watching the parade on the 4th, I drove out to Belfast, Maine--the closest coastal point.  I went to Moose Point State Park.  I was hoping to see waves crashing on the rocks.  Well . . . this is what I saw:

Yes to the rocks . . . No to the waves.  The state park is on Penobscot Bay, so the waves are wiped out by the islands on the horizon.

I decided to walk on their hiking path through the woods.  It was really cool--felt like forest with soft ground underfoot and the bay just through the trees.

 

I then came out to Moose Point.  It included the rocky coast--but still no waves.

There was this interesting creature in the rocks.  I'm not enough of a Mainer to know what it is.

July 4th in Winslow

Winslow has a big, multi-day celebration of July 4th.  Events include a battle of the bands, a dance-off, a parade, a festival, and fireworks.  The parade took place 1 block from my apartment, so I moseyed on over.  The parade included the common . . . as well as the Maine-specific . . .

Welcome to Colby

I started my new position at Colby College yesterday.  Everyone was very friendly--and very relaxed.  I was told not to wear a tie during the summer--message reinforced by the President.  My office is on the third floor of Eustis Hall, and unairconditioned building.  Several fans were procured to help get the air moving--and made an important difference.

Colby is an impressive campus.  Here is Miller Library--the signature building at the center of an immaculately planned campus:

I had lunch today on a bench overlooking Johnson Pond.  As I was sitting there, a large bird (perhaps a heron??) flew across the pond.

It kind of felt like Vacationland--during lunch break.



Welcome to Maine

My journey to Maine included two visits with friends from college--one visit was planned, the other unexpected.

As I came into Maine, I saw this sign:

I later saw a sign saying: Maine--Good Visiting, Good Living

I got to talking with a guy at Gifford's Ice Cream.  When I told him I was moving to Maine from Pittsburgh, he said, "What took you so long?"

In short, Maine feels pretty good about itself.  Perhaps this is what happens when you put "Vacationland" on the license plates.

Couple Maine moments:

• I took a walk from Winslow to Waterville and came across some folks cleaning up a public garden.  I asked whether the walking bridge (which had the sign Closed on the Winslow side) was open or not--since there were no barricades.  They assured me it was fine.  I then walked over the bridge--known as the Two Cent Bridge:

• A couple hours later I went to Gifford's Ice Cream shop.  As I was walking up, a pickup truck stopped and asked me, "Did you find what you were looking for?"  It was the folks who had been cleaning up the garden.  Moral of the story: Don't try to be a fugitive in Maine!
• Yesterday, I was driving around the Smiley neighborhood, and a teenager waved as I drove by.  Same thing happened with a truck driver.  Friendly people.

Welcome to Moose in Maine

Quick words of introduction:

• I am in the process of moving from Pittsburgh to Maine.
• This blog reflects some of my observations about this transition to life in Maine.
• Full apologies to all Mainers--I don't even know what I don't know; so I doubtless will reach false or hasty conclusions.  I'm sorry--and promise to do 100 "I am a Flatlander"'s in penance.